The latest Halloween weather prediction

With trick or treaters and their parents wringing their hands over potential stormy weather on Halloween, local ABC 33/40 meteorologist James Spann is working to keep the public informed.

On his weather blog, www.alabamawx.com, Spann says the severe weather should decline before reaching the Birmingham area. However, there will be rain moving in while the kids go door to door in search of treats.

“For Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Anniston, and Gadsden, the main threat of showers and storms will come after 7:00 p.m. Thursday,” Spann said. “Will the trick or treaters get wet? It all depends on where you live, and when they want to head out. Needless to say, the earlier they can go, the better. Storms won’t arrive until after 9:00 for areas south and east of Birmingham, most likely.”

The threat of severe weather is strongest to the west and northwest of The Trussville Tribune coverage area.

“The bulk shear values really fall off after 7:00 p.m., and for most of North/Central Alabama the tornado threat looks very low Thursday night,” Spann wrote Tuesday morning. “And, the overall severe weather threat will decrease with time as the storms move east.”

“The day Thursday will be dry, but breezy thanks to a storm system getting closer to Alabama,” Spann said. “Thunderstorms are likely Thursday night into Friday morning; here is our thinking on the system. Thunderstorms could enter the northwest corner of the state in the 4-6 p.m. time frame, up around Florence and Muscle Shoals. For places like Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Anniston, and Gadsden, the rain should begin around 7 p.m. Below is high resolution model output valid at 7 p.m. CT Thursday.”

According to the latest from the National Weather Service in Birmingham, Thursday’s weather calls for a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. with rain chances increasing to 100 percent Thursday night.

Meanwhile, Donnette Plant, caretaker of the Lake Street Cemetery in Trussville, said the popular Halloween gathering is on, rain or moonlight.

We will continue to follow www.alabamawx.com and provide the latest forecast.

The graphic shows the weather prediction for 7 p.m. Thursday.courtesy of Alabamawx.com